Grade 1 no barrier to mare

THE brilliant Laurina can extend her winning sequence in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse tomorrow.

The five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts for Willie Mullins and has looked a top class mare on her last two outings.

She was an impressive winner of a Grade 3 at this track in January but even better was to come at Cheltenham where she demolished her rivals in the mares novice hurdle.

Laurina is stepping up to Grade 1 level for the first time but this test looks no more difficult than the one she faced at Cheltenham.

It will be a major surprise if she meets with defeat and she should be much too strong for the useful English raider

Gordon Elliott’s

will bid to follow up her Cheltenham heroics in the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase.

The seven-year-old has proved herself a mare of rare quality in winning two Grade 1 races against the geldings this season.

She was very good in the JLT at Cheltenham last time having previously scored over three miles in a Leopardstown Grade 1 at Christmas.

The versatile daughter of Yeats seems to handle any ground and is effective from two miles up to three.

She does face several interesting rivals including her stablemate

who is looking to add to his own Cheltenham triumph.

Another likely contender is

who exited at the second last in the RSA Chase when set to finish third to Presenting Percy.

The return to this shorter trip could suit the six-year-old who previously chased home Monalee in a quality Grade 1 at Leopardstown.

Mullins has several other strong chances on the card and the Grade 2 novice hurdle might fall to the champion trainer’s

He has progressed with every run over hurdles and comes here off an excellent fourth to Samcro at Cheltenham.

On that last run, Scarpetta holds a slight edge over stablemate

who had to settle for fifth that day.

also commands maximum respect following his bold front running success in the Martin Pipe just over two weeks ago.

could provide the Mullins yard with another winner in the valuable novice handicap chase.

is the obvious choice but a chance is taken on the Mcmanus-owned runner whose three wins have all come at this trip.

Bon Papa has previously run well at a much higher level so this prize could be well within his reach.

looked a cracking prospect when he made a winning debut at Leopardstown in early March which makes him the choice in the bumper.